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Top 3 Online Sources to List Your Website

The construction industry has more than 650,000 employers and over 6 million employees, making it one of the largest industries in the United States. According to The Associated General Contractors of America, the spending on construction in March 2015 totaled $967 billion. Data from the Labor Department by the Associated General Contractors of America also noted that construction employment had increased in 43 states and D.C. in the past year. It seems as though there are endless options of contractors to choose from. So, what can you do to stand out amongst the crowd?

It’s no secret that the internet has changed the way we do business. We know we live in a market where homeowners are doing their research more than ever before. In today’s world, homeowners can find out a lot of information about you or your firm within seconds. According to research conducted by BrightLocal.com in 2014, a survey of approximately 5,000 consumers in North America revealed that 88% of consumers read online reviews to determine the quality of local businesses. But what’s even worse is if customers CAN’T find information about you online. In today’s increasingly digital culture, having no resources online to showcase the credibility of your work is a huge red flag for consumers.

The Value of Building Trust with a Stranger

Building trust is the best way to win business. To build trust with future customers, you must show them that you have nothing to hide. When you’re competing against hundreds of other local competitors that look exactly the same in the yellow pages, the online customer reviews, certifications and recommendations are what make all the difference. Below are a few user-friendly sites that can build your reputation as well as your customers’ trust - before you even meet them.

HomeAdvisor is a free and easy way for homeowners to find and connect with trusted home improvement, maintenance and repair professionals. As a member of the Better Homes and Gardens Network, it serves as an online home improvement marketplace. HomeAdvisor has over 30 million homeowners in its network, including over 90,000 pre-screened home service professionals. The pre-screening process includes criminal records, bankruptcy issues, bad reviews, sex offenses and cases of malpractice.

In addition, HomeAdvisor allows you to list information about your company via a profile where your contact information is stored along with customer reviews and achievements. It is here you can also list all of your service offerings and company background.

HomeAdvisor is very user-friendly, allowing those who don’t have strong digital skills to easily edit their profiles. In fact, representatives will reach out to you to help answer any questions and find new work for you within hours of entering information in their system.

Angie’s List is a trusted online site connecting you to more than 3 million households nationwide seeking the best local service providers. This online venue allows reviews of your work, along with testimonials from previous local customers. Benefits for contractors include:

No Anonymous Reviews: You can always find out what reviews customers are leaving and what they have to say about your work.

Certified Data Collection: Angie’s List prevents companies and providers from reporting on themselves or on their competitors.

Online Reputation Management Services: You can always respond to reports about your company. If someone reported false or faulty information about your company, you can respond and provide all of the details missed.

If you opt to list your company on Angie’s List, you’ll want to make sure to check activity regularly and observe what customers are saying. This allows you to know if they’re truly satisfied, or if there are opportunities for improvement.

This service has an annual cost, but can be well worth the investment if you utilize the services completely and engage with online customers regularly.

Houzz is an online platform for home remodeling and design, bringing homeowners and home professionals together in a uniquely visual community. With over 30 million unique monthly visitors that are actively building, remodeling and redecorating their homes, Houzz offers a unique opportunity to reach an audience that is looking for your services. Here, you can build your own free professional profile that includes a company background, projects you’ve recently completed, ideabooks for future projects, reviews, questions posed by customers and contact information. They can also provide endorsements to great projects as well as annual awards that get posted to your Houzz profile. However, reviews don’t always have a face behind the name. Overall this site a great way to get the work you can do out in front of customers.

By utilizing these websites, you’re letting customers know more about you and your company’s work history. The more information you provide online about you professionally and/or your company, the greater chance you have of building trust with a potential customer before any initial contact is ever made.

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